The director and producer on meeting the trailblazer and telling her story
BY NIC CROSARA
Munroe Bergdorf has lived a life full of highs and lows, love and rage. The model, activist, writer and trailblazer is a leading trans voice in the UK. This powerful and urgent documentary takes a look at Munroe’s upbringing, public controversies and journey to self-acceptance.
We got the chance to speak to director Olivia Cappuccini and producer Andee Ryder ahead of the film’s release. Here’s what they had to say…
DIVA: Can you tell me about the first time you met Munroe? What were your first impressions?
Olivia: [When Universal looked] for a director, I was essentially interviewed by Munroe for the job. We met in a very informal setting, and I was really looking forward to meeting her because, prior to that, the only thing I’d ever really known about her was from what I’d seen on news channels. I’d always been really taken with her intellect and the way that she carried herself. She was exactly that and more.
Andee: I came onto the project a little bit later. I was very aware of Munroe being a spearhead of my community, so I was excited to meet Munroe. We met not too far away from where Munroe livesnfor a cup of tea. It was a good, two or three-hour chat and it was really great to meet her. There was definitely a shared ambition of what we were trying to achieve with the film.
As the title suggests, this film balances both the beautiful and ugly parts of life. Was this challenging to achieve as a director?
O: I wouldn’t say that part of it was challenging. I would actually say trying to cater that to both the mass audience who maybe have never engaged with anyone from the community, and also wanting to speak to the community that Munroe is such a pillar of, was probably the biggest challenge.
The themes of love and rage comes with any sort of human experience but is maybe exasperated more in Munroe’s case because she’s such a public figure, coming from a community that is filled with so much love but is having to face so much.
Well said. This is obviously coming out at a time when trans rights are being rolled back in a massive way in the UK. How does it feel that this has come out at this time?
A: It’s sad that we’re in that position. But for the timing of the film and bringing up the conversation, actually, that is a silver lining. Because we are in a bit of a, for want of a better phrase, shitstorm right now and Munroe has always been fighting for us and the film shows that but also the effect that that has on a human being. Munroe is, of course, a human, and is just trying to do the right thing for her community.
What do you hope audiences take away from watching the film?
O: Personally, I really hope that they realise how bland and grey their lives would be without the community. I mean, there is so much joy and light and love that they impart into our world and I, prior to getting to spend so much time with them, I was just living such a boring life. So I really hope they realise how cherished they should be, how important they are, and basically how they represent freedom, for everyone, and we should embrace that wholeheartedly.
A: I’d like people to feel empowered. I want them to go through a rollercoaster of emotions, which I think they will because the film delivers that and goes through it with Munroe. I would hope that people would feel inspired and invigorated.
Love & Rage: Munroe Bergdorf will screen in UK cinemas 10 and 11 June. You can watch a trailer below.
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